CSU Rams vs. Washington State football: 4 things to know, key matchups and predictions
Colorado State travels to Pullman to face Cougars at 3 p.m. MDT
CSU Rams (0-2) vs. Washington State (2-0); 3 p.m. MDT Saturday, Martin
Stadium
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Net/1600 AM
Line: Wazzu -11, 53.5 over/under
Weather: 64 degrees, mostly cloudy
What to know
Farewell, Part I. Dante Wright ‘s once-promising CSU career came to an abrupt end earlier
this week when the senior receiver opted to enter the transfer portal. The move
wasn’t entirely surprising given that Wright had become an afterthought (zero
catches in 2022) in new Rams head coach Jay Norvell’s offense after piling up
121 receptions for 1,674 yards in his first three years in FoCo. .
Farewell, Part II. Wright wasn’t the only senior to call it a career in FoCo this
week, either. Placekicker Cayden Camper, who made a school record 25 field
goals last fall, followed Wright out the door after missing his lone field goal
attempt through two games this year. It’s unclear which of the two kickers on
the CSU roster will take his spot, although Oregon transfer Henry Katleman has
been handling kickoff duties.
O-line issues. While those departures sting, they’re far from the biggest concern
for a CSU offense that’s struggled to keep Clay Millen upright. The freshman QB
has been sacked 15 times through two weeks behind a battered and inexperienced
offensive line. Left tackle Brian Crespo-Jaquez suffered a season-ending knee
injury prior to last week’s 34-19 loss to Middle Tennessee, and right tackle
Dontae Keys didn’t last a quarter. Norvell hinted at changes to come, and they
can’t happen soon enough.
New Cougs. A Washington State program once defined by its Air Raid attack has
taken on a different identity under new coach Jake Dickert. The ex-defensive
coordinator has the Cougars playing salty defense with 18 tackles for loss,
seven sacks and five turnovers over two games, with three of those takeaways
coming in Wazzu’s 17-14 upset of Wisconsin at Camp Randall.
Key matchups
CSU O-Line vs. WSU front
seven. Until CSU gets things figured out up front,
the explosive Clay Millen-to-Tory Horton passing combination (255 yards, four
TDs) will never reach its ceiling. Going against a Cougars defense that
features eight players with at least half a sack, communication will be
critical.
WSU QB Cameron Ward vs. CSU
secondary. The famed “Coug Raid” offense that was
expected to take off under Ward, an Incarnate Word transfer, has struggled with
consistency. CSU’s defense showed signs of life holding MTSU to seven points
(and two turnovers) in the second half. Did CSU figure some things out?
Predictions
Sean Keeler, sports columnist:
WSU 34, CSU 30
Oh, so THIS is what rock bottom
feels like? Dante Wright and Cayden Camper fled to the portal rather than
endure another rebuild. MTSU just stole your lunch at Canvas Stadium. Pundits
are lumping the Rams into their “Bottom 10″ lists … right next to sad-sack CU.
It’ll get better, FoCo. Just … probably not this week.
Matt Schubert, deputy sports
editor: WSU 20, CSU 17
With an offense that’s produced 41 points
combined over two games — defensible when it’s Wisconsin, not so much when it’s
Idaho — Wazzu is beatable. Put together an early scoring drive or two, and the
Rams can keep this one close going into the fourth quarter. Then, the
pressure’s on the Cougs.
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